Internal-combustion engine



Dec 4, 1928.

R. J. LEE

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed 'oct. 51, 1927 4 Shets-Sheet Ed /lard J. L ee B] Attorngy Dec 4, 1928.

R. J. LEE

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 31 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet Inventor Ziz'chard :7. Lee

Dec. 4, 1928.

R. J. LEE

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 31, 1927 I ll Ill Hi 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Elle-hard "CZ Lee Atmrmgy Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,098

R. J. LEE- INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE I Filed.0ct. :51, 1921 4 Sheetls-Sheet 4 Inventor Attarrzgy Patented Dec. 4, 1928 UNITED STATES RICHARD J. LEE, OF MARRERO, LOUISIANA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed ctober'31, 1927. Serial No. 229,960.

' vThe present invention relates to an internal combustionjengine andhas for its prime object to provide an engine embodying a rotating piston in a circular cylinder and a reciprocating piston in a straight "cylinder for operating together for the intake, compresson, explosion and exhaust of fuel gases for the purpose of moving the pistons to attain a high degree of power, efficiency and reliability. g

A stillfurtherimportantobject of the invention residesin theprovision of an internal combustion engine of this type whichis comparatively simple in its constructiomand well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. Q With the-above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Inthe drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of the engine embodying the features of my nvention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken transversely therethrough, I i

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional perspective I showing a fragment of the circular cylinder,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure .2,

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the ring segment, I

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view through the arcuate piston, and v Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the spoke elements. c i

' Referring to the drawing in detail 'it will be seen that the numeral ,5 denotes a base from which rises a circular cylinder structure 6 formed in two parts bolted together at 7 A pair of bearings 8 are disposed coaxially in respect to the curvature of the circular cylinder structure 6 one to each side thereof and are connected therewith by ineansof arms 9 radiating outwardly from the bearings 8 and extending inwardly toward the cylinder structure 6 to be cast integrally therewith or otherwise affixed thereto. A shaft 10 is rotatable in thebearings 8. A rotor 11 is keyed to the shaft 10 within the cylinder structure 6. The cylinder structure 6 is jacketed as at 12 for circulation of a cooling fluid and is formed with the cylindrical bore 14 the axis of which is circular. The cylinder structure 6 is formed with an annular slot 15 on its inner side communicating with the bore 14. The cylinder structure 6 is provided with an exhaust port 16 disposed tangentially to the axis of the shaft 10. A port17 is provided in the side wall of the cylinder structure 6 communicating with the bore 14. Aport 18 is provided in the cylinder structure on the outer side thereof communicating with the port 14. A piston 19 curved longitudinally is movable in the bore 14 and has a connectingrod 2O engaged therewith through a recess 21 therein by means of a wrist pin 22. This connecting rod extends into a recess 23 formed in the rotor 11 and .is fixed in said recess 23 as at 24. A rim segment 26 has an inwardly directed extension 27 at one end bolted or otherwise secured to one end of the piston 19 as at 28. The other end of the rim seginent 26 has an inwardly directed extension 29. A plurality of spokes S radiate outward- 1y from-the rotor 11 and engage the ring section 26. Each spoke comprises an'inner portion 30 having'a reduced terminal'81 embedded in a recess 32 in the peripheryof the rotor 11 and the. other end is provided with a threaded bore 38' for receiving a threaded stem 35 on which is a lock nut 36 so that the length of the spoke may be adjusted. A shoulder 87 is formed on the stem 35 and a reduced end 38 projects therefrom to be embedded in an opening 39 in the ring section 26., These spokes S extend through the slot 15. An arcuate filler 40 is movable in the slot 15 for closing portions thereof to form the extension chamber as will be more apparent as the description proceeds. This filler 40 extends from an intermediateportion of the piston 19 to the spokes S adjacent the extension 29. The extremity of the extension 29 extends into an opening '41 formed in the filler40. A flat valve 42 is hingedly mounted at one end as at 43 in a pocket or recess 44 formed in the cylinder structure 6 for the purpose of closing' the port 18. g I

A cylinder block" 45 is formed with a straight axis cylinder 46jacketed as at47,said jacket 47 communicating with the jacket 12 and the outer end of the cylinder 46 is formed with the port 48 registering and communicating with the port 18. The cylinder block mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 46 and has a connecting rod 52 connected therewith and with the crank of a crank shaft 53 which is rotatable in acrank case 54 bolted as at 55 on the inner end of the cylinder block 45. The cylinder block is formed with a passage 56 leading from the crank case to an intermediate portion of the cylinder 46. The block 45 is formed with a port 57 in the side wall thereof leading outwardly from the cylinder 46. An intake manifold 58 leading from a carburetor 59 communicateswith the port 57. A gear 61 is keyed on the crank shaft 53 and meshes with an idler gear 62 journaled on a stub shaft 63 projecting from the base 5.] A gear 64 is keyed on the shaft 10 and meshes with the idler gear 62, The gears 61, 62 and 64 are of the same size so that the crankshaft 53 rotates in the same direction with and at the same speed with the shaft 10.

The flat valve 42 is limited'in swinging away from the port 18 by abutting the filler 40 and shoulders 66 formed in the cylinder bore 14.

It is thought that the details of construction will now be suiiiciently understood to follow the operation of the engine. Referring, therefore, to Figure 2 and supposin the piston 51 to be at the top of its stroke and the piston 19 just assed the port 18. When the pistons are so disposed the spark plug is energized to ignite theiexplosive mixture in thefiring chamber of the cylinder 46 so that the gases will expand forcing the piston 51 downwardly and the piston 19 in a counter clockwise direction. l/Vhen the pistons 19 and 51 reach the positions shown in Fig ure- 2 the gas in the crank case 54 will be under compression so that as the piston 51 moves downwardly a little more this gas will enter the cylinder 46 above the piston forcing the burntgases into the cylinder 14 behind the moving piston 19. As the piston 51 moves upwardly the piston 19 moves past the exhaust opening 16 causing the extension 19 and the ring section 26 to close the flat valve 42 so that the gas in the cylinder 46 will becompressed further and the exhaust gases in the cylinder 14 will be forced out through the exhaust port 16. v

It is thought that the construction, operation and advantages of the'invention will now be apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

It is to be noted that on the compression up-' per stroke of the piston 41 a suction is set up in the crank case to suck in a new supply {1101, omgl1 the port 57 from the intake manifold 58. 1 i

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way of example since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the inder having an axis describing a closed curve, a longitudinally curved plston move able in the cylinder, the inner side of the cylinder being formed with an annular slot, 1

an arcuate filler piece fixed to the piston and movable in the slot, an arcuate band segment having inwardly directedend exten sions one of which is fixed to the piston and the other of which is engaged with the filler piece, a second cylinder having a port communicating with a port of the first cylinder, a flat valve in the firstcylinder closable over the ports by the band, segment and the second mentioned extensions, a piston movable in the second cylinder, means operativelyconnecting the pistons to cause the simultaneous rotation of the first piston with the reciprocation of the second piston, means to ignite an explosive mixture in the second cylinder todrive both pistons, means cooperaable with the second piston and cylinder for admitting the explosive mixture andvcompressing thesame, said first cylinder having anexhaust port, said means operatively connecting the pistons including a rotor, a connecting rod extending through the slotand connected with the first iston and the rotor, and gearing and a cra shaft and connecting rod operatively connecting the rotor with the second piston, spokes radiatin from the rotor through the slot and engage with the bandsegment. a i f y 2. In an internal combustion engine, a cyl inder having an axis describing a closed curve, a longitudinally curved piston movable in the cylinder, the inner side of the cylinder being formed with an annular slot, an arcuate filler piece fixed to the piston and movable in the slot, an arcuate band segment having inwardly directed end extensions one of which is fixed to the piston and mentioned'extensions, a' piston movable in t the secondcylinder, means operatively connecting the pistons to cause the simultaneous rotation of the first piston with the reciprocation of the second piston, means to ignite an explosive mixture in the second cylinder 7 to drive both pistons, means cooperable with the second piston and cylinder for admitting the explosive mixture and compressing the same, said first cylinder having an exhaust port, said means operatively connecting the pistons including a rotor, a connecting rod extending throughthe slot and connected with the first piston and the rotor, and gearing and a crank shaft and connecting rod operatively connecting the rotor with the second piston, spokes radiating from the Y rotor through the slot and engaged with the band segment, each spoke comprising a pair 10 of threadedly engaged sections.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

RICHARD J. LEE. 

